Yes!

I’m not Catholic, but I really appreciated the previous Pope, the new one, and the Catholic Church. I’ve worked with them before. I disagree on some things, but so do many Catholics.

Pope Leo, in his first major address, talked about family and, to some extent, sexuality and gender. I watched over half of his address. I felt him walking a fine line between turning back the clock and keeping fringe people engaged.

My pastor’s pledge

First, I should point out that as a pastor, my pledge to myself—one I always take very seriously—was never to mislead anyone. Instead, I committed to excellence in scholarship and understanding, exploring the faith and the Word, offering guidance, and never disparaging others’ beliefs. My opinion has to be deeply rooted in a theological perspective that’s centered in Jesus, the entire Gospel, and beyond practical dispute.

I respect others’ beliefs even if I disagree with them. I don’t ask them to change because that’s between them and God in their spiritual growth.

Things I disagree with

Pope Leo talked about Adam and Eve and the creation of woman. I appreciate that he talked about equality. Kudos! Although in the church, some are more equal than others, or are mysteriously assigned different roles. But he addressed marriage between a man and a woman as the only option. I guess this rules out celibate and unmarried monks, priests, and nuns if carried to logical extremes. 🙂

He talked about Truth, with a capital “T.” He doesn’t like newfangled “weasel words” that might water this down (my quotts). A closed mind, however, is closed to growth.

I think most people don’t understand that Christians aren’t Jews and aren’t bound by Jewish Law, no matter how much we might think it would be great. LGBTQ+ issues are no exception.

So, with due heartfelt respect for Pope Leo, let’s explore these topics from my over thirty-five years of intensive engagement and research.

Adam and Eve and marriage

It seems like I’m talking about Adam and Eve a lot lately. The ancients tried to tell us important things through their story. It has several different interpretations, even if some religions take these mythical stories as foundational. We don’t know if Genesis is truth or metaphor, and these stories seem derived from tales circulating in the Middle East from previous ages. But let’s go with it.

Certainly, in the Middle East region, family was the foundation of daily life. It takes two to create children, and sexual fidelity to each other, especially for women, was important in Canaan (Palestine/Israel), Assyria, Babylon, Sumer, and Greek and Roman cultures.

In that day, a woman found it nearly impossible to raise children on her own. Many resorted to prostitution. Culture and laws protected marriage, and ancient Sumer had better laws for protecting widows than even in Israel.

It was unusual to find other types of relationships than marriage. In that day a man with effeminate or gay characteristics was looked down on throughout the region. They weren’t ostracized, but they likely weren’t included in many social circles. It was accepted that some soldiers took some with them as servants and for sex.

Pope Leo expressed the relationship that developed when God took part of Adam to create Eve, as not just a marriage relationship, but the only acceptable relationship of marriage. A man and a woman. It reflects nature. Except when it doesn’t.

This statement to me is a logical fallacy. Does one type of relationship automatically exclude all other types of relationships? This is not true to the logic of evaluating statements. Nope. The statement doesn’t exclude any other form of relationship. That’s an interpretation.

I also staggered at the implication that ‘man is in the image of God’ refers to some physical sense. I always interpret this as a spiritual metaphor – God’s spiritual image. Does this mean that God has male characteristics and anatomy? Kind of a Zeus-like figure? I’m not going to explore this one.

Sex and the apostles

The apostles rightfully warned of the dangers of sexual promiscuity. Today, those who are sexually promiscuous (not exclusive to one person), find out the dangers. It’s true.

But you know what? Several of the apostles went to other nations, and in the belief that Jesus was returning imminently, convinced married women to abstain from sex within marriage. You know what happened? They apostles were killed by irate husbands.

Today many do similar things, focusing on what others do sexually and in terms of gender. It’s counterproductive.

Biology of gender and sex

God, or nature, created all kinds of sexual and gender anomalies. Some people have both sets of sex organs. Some develop abnormally. Some have none. There is variety, but so far, people haven’t been able to procreate on their own like some species in nature. In the animal kingdom, there’s a continuum of sexual and gender identity just as in humans.

Some men have XYY chromosomes instead of XY. Women have XX. While chromosomes are primarily determinative of physical sexual development. Just as in love, the brain dominates. We can question why we love who we love, but it doesn’t change anything. It’s the same with gender identification.

We still don’t know how many genes are involved in gender identity. Multiple genes, particularly those related to sex hormone pathways, play a role. Studies have identified specific gene variants associated with gender dysphoria, with some suggesting links to estrogen signaling pathways.

Gender identity has to do instead with our inner sense of who we are. For most of the population (over 95%), gender is synonymous with chromosomes. At around ages 2 to 3, people generally have a sense of their gender.

Surprisingly, even at this early age, transgender youth have a strong sense of their identity, and no brainwashing in the world changes them.

Trying to change gender identity is like beating your head against a brick wall. You can either accept it or bash your brains out and harm others.

For more information, see Gender: When the body and brain disagree.

What then for those who biologically can’t be the gender others think they should be?

Societies from ancient times to today have grappled with this question. God throws us curves to see how we handle them. They are part of our spiritual growth. Do we trot our law books around town, holding them high, chanting condemnation of those who are different? Or do we lovingly accept them and make exceptions for them?

In times of rapid change like today, especially with things we don’t understand, we tend to stick to simple, rigid rules.

God said it isn’t good for people to be alone. Should these individuals be shunned? Should they be given the death sentence that, in some interpretations, means God doesn’t accept them, so they don’t feel accepted by anyone and commit suicide? Should we prevent them from marrying and having a family?

Most of Western society has looked at this question God posed and decided loving acceptance and family is the way forward for them.

Truth

Truth is one of my favorite topics. It took me years of exploring the scriptures to understand what Jesus meant by “truth.” Is truth a law with finely defined points? No, Jesus was referring to something else entirely. He said that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free (John 8:32). He also said to the Samaritan woman that we would worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

True worship of God is not something we do only in church. As the prophets told us, if you neglect and mistreat others, your worship in church is noise to God (Amos 5:21-24, Isaiah 6:10). God hates it.

Love is the law of Christianity, defined as how we treat others. Treating others well sets us free from the power of harming others (sin, guilt, destruction) and brings us into good relationships with others and God, which empowers us.

So, I have a very different concept of what truth is. God is love. The sum of the word of God is truth. The word instructs us on a better life by living a life of love of others. This is Truth.

Are Christians Jews and subject to Jewish Law?

We just don’t get it. We’re so immersed in reading the Old Testament and Jesus’ words during his ministry to the Jews, that we think we’re Jews. Jesus finished his ministry to the Jews and didn’t start a ministry to non-Jews through the apostles, until he appeared after crucifixion.

The Jews lived by their law. They don’t feel any other people are subject to the same six hundred and thirteen laws found in the first five books of the Bible (The Law). We’re not Jews.

The Apostle Paul was the apostle who mostly ministered and spread the Good News of forgiveness to non-Jews. Paul explained that as Christians, we are free to do anything. Not everything is good for us, and some things can come to dominate us, so we must evaluate our behavior and be careful (1 Corinthians 6:12).

At the most, the laws of Noah or the Ten Commandments apply to us. If you act out of love toward others, there is no way you will break these. At the least, it’s important not to hurt others, and to make amends if you do.

Paul tells us, if we choose to live under the Jewish law and depend on that for salvation, then Jesus came and died for nothing (Galatians 2:21).

Conclusion

I don’t tell people what to believe or disparage their religions. At best, you can look to me for what might be wisdom or alternative interpretations. I respect others’ beliefs. Some feel they need strict rules to live by. Perhaps they do. Life is full of compromising experiences, and many don’t get good advice. A rule of thumb might be best for them.

We should keep in mind that Jesus scolded Jews who held the Traditions of the Fathers higher than the Laws given through Moses (Matthew 15:3-9 and Mark 7:8-13). In our Christian walk and spiritual development, we should always ask ourselves if we’re placing some law above the primary commandment to love others as ourselves. We should also ask if we’re ignoring the important advice Jesus gave us that if we judge others, we submit ourselves to judgment, becoming subject to the law again. None of us are perfect.

“Good voyage” to the Catholics with their new pope!

“With hate, we have more to lose than gain – break the cycle” – Dorian Scott Cole

“Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.” – Dorian Scott Cole

Probability Space

What probability spaces can we open in our minds to demonstrate the love of God and our own love of others, to help the world be a better place for all, so that people want to follow the Way Jesus showed us to live?

(A probability space is where all of the elements necessary for something to happen are present and it’s almost inevitable. All it takes is intention.)

Potential Space

If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander and explore, how can we help others understand the purpose of love instead of law?

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.
Please subscribe to my Patheos Newsletter.

Below is information for church planning to minister to new generations, building a community of action, service opportunities, education opportunities for new generations, and descriptions of the author’s nonfiction books.

Some things that you might love

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.

Please subscribe to my Patheos Newsletter.

Below is information for creating change in my new book, Unleash Movements that Matter: Break Through Barriers to Change.

My new book. Unleash Movements that Matter: Break Through Barriers to Change.

My new book, Unleash Movements that Matter: Break Through Barriers to Change, which I wrote for new generations, I research and explain in great detail what it takes to create change in our world. (An audio presentation is in progress.)

Ministering to New Generations – strong impact course

How can churches minister to new generations if they won’t come to church? The church has been losing people at 1% a year, and now most of new generations won’t come.

I developed and presented a course on understanding and working with new generations. I would like to say I had rave reviews, but on a scale of 1 to 5 it averaged 4.5. Well, some people were raving.

The course helps people understand new generations, their values, and their differences. It helps people understand how to build a bridge to them and minister to them. The old worn-out things we used to do don’t work, and for good reason. This solutions focused course enables people to find new ways, appropriate ways, to minister to these generations in their local circumstances. It’s for church groups and generates deep discussion.

Free video preview of the course

Course on Udemy: Understanding and Working with New Generations

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–           Dorian

Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.

Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy. This is why we dance to celebrate life: Reindeer actually running and dancing.

Building a Community of Action

New Way Forward community

Can we make positive change in our world and end a lot of suffering?

Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said: “Although the world is full of suffering, it’s also full of the overcoming of it.”

The human spirit yearns for a world without suffering, but it’s through facing challenges that we progress. The world isn’t perfect, but together we can create a future with less hardship. Famine, discrimination, gun violence, and injurious economic and educational disparities are complex problems, yet understanding their root causes empowers us to find solutions.

Launching in first quarter 2025, the New Way Forward community will connect individuals seeking practical solutions and creating lasting change. We’ll focus on understanding problems and their solutions, and how to effectively create change.

Join us in building a brighter tomorrow! New Way Forward on Facebook.

Civic service opportunities

Do Unto Others Kindness Campaign, and civic engagement.

UCC service opportunities.

PC USA programs and services.

United Methodist Church Volunteer Opportunities.

Join or support Zero Hour and amplify the voices of youth organizing for climate action.

Peoples Hub. Resistance, Resilience, Restoration, Re-imagination. Online Popular Education. For movement workers to learn, connect, collaborate, and strategize – in and across the disability justice and solidarity economy movements.

Stakeholder Capitalism – a video podcast series from the World Economic Forum. Can capitalism be made to work for all of us – and to improve rather than destroy the state of the planet?

General service and aid opportunities (on One Spirit Resources Website). To add your service opportunity to the One Spirit Resources list, contact the author (me) through Facebook Messenger. Note that I only friend people I know.

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Education Opportunities for new generations

Becoming an Entrepreneur – MITx online

Evaluating Social Programs – MITx online

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Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.

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Author and books

New Generations Walk with Jesus: Newer generations feel unloved, alone, lost, stressed, and are searching for a deeper spiritual connection that they don’t find in the church. This book draws on fifty years of the author’s quest to understand people, religion, and spirituality, and his work with many denominations. It provides a deep analysis of pressing questions these generations have, without denominational baggage.

Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love. Love is a major emphasis in all major religions and replaces law.

The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.

Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.

Author Website: Dorian Scott Cole